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F. M. GARLAND.

MACHINE GUN.

No. 430,206. PatentedJune 17, 1890.

l5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

F. M. GARLAND.

(No Model.)

MACHINE GUN.

Patented June 17. 1890.

Y No. 430,206.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

' RM. GARLAND.

MACHINE G'UN. No. 430,206. Patented June 17, 1890.

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. (No Model.) Y 5 Sheets- Sheet 5.

P. M. GARLAND.

MACHINE GUN.

No. 430,206. Patented June 17, 1890.

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i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK M. GARLAND,` OF NEIV HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR OF TIVO- THIRDS TO EBENEZER B. BEECHER, MILLIAIWI A. FOSKETT, AND FRED- ERICK I). NEVTON, ALL OF SAME PLACE, AND THOMAS H. SHERMAN, OF VASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

MACHINE-GUN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 430,206, dated June 17, 1890.

Serial No. 320,202. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern: O

Be it known that I, FRANK M. GARLAND, of New Haven, Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machine-Guns, 0f which the following is aspecification. i

The invention relates to the class f positive-feeding automatic magazine 0r machine guns having stationary barrels, and the ob- 1 o ject is to construct a gun of this class in which the operations of loading and firing are automatically performed with great rapidity without danger of clogging the mechanism with a cartridge or disabling the gun by the sticking of a shell in the breech, and to arrange the mechanism so as to prevent it becoming foul from firing, and so that the balls will have as greatvelocity and penetration whether the cartridges are exploded rapidly or slowly; zo also, to provide means which can be conveniently operated so that cartridges may be fed into both or either of the barrels.

The invention consists in a gun provided with certain novel mechanisms arranged to z 5 feed into the barrels and explode cartridges ,the shells of which are not required to be extracted from the breech, such a cartridge being shown in my application for patent of Serial No. 312,206.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of a gun embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a side View, scale enlarged, of the breech with the casing removed and part of the frame broken away. 3 5 Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the breech on plane denoted by line X X of Fig. 2. Fig. 4

is a similar View on plane denoted by line X X of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a top view of the breech. Fig. 6 is a detail plan view of the 4o spindles which bear the loading and firing bolts and triggers. Fig. 7 is a side view, part in section, of the spindle `at the forward limit of its play. Fig. 8 is a similar` view of the spindle at its backward limit. Fig. 9 is a detail front view of the trigger. Fig. 10 is a side View of the breech-block and its oscillating mechanism, also of the cartridge separator and forceps with their reciprocating mechanism. Fig. 11 is a face view of the breechblock and its oscillating mechanism, looking 5o from line y y of Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a face view of the cartridge forceps and separator with their operating mechanisms, looking from line y y of Fig. 10. Fig. 13 is a top view of one pair of forceps and the cartridge separator. Fig. 14E is a sectional view on plane .e z of Fig. 13. Fig. 15 is a sectional view .of the breech-block on plane e a of Fig.

11. Fig. 16 is a face view of the feed-cam and ratchet. Fig. 17 is a detail top View of 6o the end of the elevating screw tail-piece. Figs. 18, 19, 20, and 2l show detached parts of Figs. 6, 7, and S, on an enlarged scale, illustrating more fully the spindle and the parts connected therewith and the diiferent positions of some of the parts.

In the drawings, the letter A denotes the frame, projecting laterally from the front of which are the trnnnions A', that are held in bearings in the walls of the mount I3. The 7o broadened base of the mount rests and rotates upon the plate C', which is secured to any suitable carriage C, balls being placed between the base of the mount and the plate C to reduce the friction between the parts and facilitate the oscillation of the gun.

Two barrels D are secured to the front plate A2 of the frame A, and near the rear of the frame and supported by its walls is a transverse shaft E, which bears two similar 8o cam'- wheels e e into the cam grooves, in which project rollers that are attached to the lower ends of levers ff,which oscillate upon a shaft F, supported by a standard A3, that rises from the bott-om near the center of the frame. The upper ends of these levers are segmental and are provided with gear-teeth whichmesh with teeth cnt on the bottoni of the spindles Gr G', that reciprocate in ways formed between plates a a, the lower set a 9o being supported by the frame and the standard A3, while the upper set a are removably held down by screws at, which pass through the cover A4 that is hinged to the top of the frame. The cams which oscillate the levers ff are so timed with relation to each other dle is a loading and firing bolt g, which is thrust forward by a spiral spring g within the spindle. (locking-levers I-I are pivoted between downward and rearward projecting arms on the end of the spindles in such position that when the spindles are thrown backward the lower end of the levers strike an adjustable stop h, attached to the frame, which causes the forked upper end of the lever to pull back the bolt g, compressing the spring g. When the bolt has been pulled back sufficiently, a pin 1l, connected to thetrigger Ldrops in front of a shoulder formed on the bolt and holds it with the spring g tense.

The triggers I are pivoted between lugs g2, rising from the top of the spindles, one part of the trigger projecting rearward and engaging the pin t', which moves freely up and down lbetween the lugs g2, while to the upper part is pivoted the pull 2, which is adapted to bow backward when moving 'forward past the trip a5, but is rigid with the trigger when coming in contact with the trip upon its backward movement, so as to pull the trigger and lift the pin t' from the'shoulder on the bolt and allow the spring to thrust the bolt forward and by means of the firing-pin explode a car,- tridge. A pin i3, passing from side to side of the pull,by contact with the trigger, prevents the pull from bowing forward, while the spring i4 holds the pull on the other side with a yielding pressure, allowing it to bow backward when desired. (See Figs. 7, 18, 19, 20, and 2l.) A spring t5, attached to the spindle and resting against the trigger, keeps the pin t' down,and a spring h holds the cooking-lever H forward-to allow a free .movement of the bolt when the trigger is pulled. The trip a5 may be formed integral with the top A4 of the frame or may be movably attached for purposes Vof adjustment.

A longitudinal shaft K, supported near its rear end by the standard A3 and at the oppo-V .site end by the front plate of the frame, bears a bevel-gear lo', that meshes with and is driven by a bevel-gear e2 upon the shaft E. Inside of the frame this shaft K bears a cam-wheel k2. The lower end of a lever k3, which is pivoted to the inside of the frame, bears a roll that projects into the cam-groove in the wheel k2, while the upper end of the lever is segmen tal and bears teeth, which mesh with teeth cut on the periphery of the breech-block M,

that is also pivoted to the front plate of thev frameV behind the barrels, so that the rotation of the shaft and cam causes the oscillation of the lever and breech-block. This breechblock, which is a circular disk pivoted to the A2, and a rim a6, partly encircling the breechblock, is secured to the front plate over this flange to hold the block closely to theback'of the barrels. The breech-block: preferably has two loading-holes m2 of a sizeto allow the passage of a cartridge into the barrels. Itis also provided with two other perforations, in which are loosely held firing-pins m3. These openings are so located in the block that when a loading-opening is vopposite one barrel a firing-pin will be opposite the other, and when the block is oscillated to its other positiona loading-opening is brought opposite the barrel where previously there was a firing-pin and a firing-pin brought 'behind the barrel where a loading-opening was-that is, when one barrel is ready for loading the other is ready to be fired.. It is not necessary that there should be two loading-openings and firing-pins; but with two the oscillation of the block is much less than when there is but one set which alternate with each other behind the barrels.

The back of the breech-block around the iiring-pin is provided with a convexed chamber m4, into which the rim of the cartridgeis blown to permit the passage of the shell through the barrel after the ball has been fired, as set forth in my application above referred to.

A cam 7a4 is attached to the front end of the shaft K, and upon its periphery bears a roll ratchet n fast to the shaft N, which is sup- IOO ported on one side of the frame by the front plate A2 and partition A5. A feed-wheel O', provided with sprocket-teeth at each end, is borne on this shaft N, and parallel with the shaft N, and supported in a similar manner on the'opposite side of the frame, is a shaft N which bears a feed-wheel O. A sprocketchain p passes around the rolls O O, so that motion imparted by the cam 104, lever L, and ratchet n to the shaft N causes the chain to feed around the wheels.

The cartridges used in this gun are joined in a continuous band by a iexible'belt and packed in suitable cases Q, adapted to be attached'to the gun adjacent to the feed-chain p, and to start feeding, the lirst cartridge of IIO the strip is laid between the arms p thatproject from the links ofthe chain p, and the cartridges are drawn by the chain into the breech behind the barrels, into which they are to be inserted. The can l# is so cut that at cach revolution it feeds the ratchet two notches. This feeds the chain bearing the cartridges two spaces, so that every other cartridge passes the right barrel in order that it may be fired in the left. A rod c, passing longitudinally through the breech and terminating in the rear in a handle o', has its-front end-bent and so locatedwith regard to the curved grasping-jaws r, attached at their up- Aper ends to a plate r which is secured to the forward-projecting head s of the bars s bya screw S2, the upper end of which is provided with a handle s3, so that by turning the handle the relative positions of the head s and plate r may be changed. Plates 34 are attached to the sides of the head to properly hold the arms of the forceps. The bars s, to which the forceps are connected, are held in sliding contact with the partition A5 at their upper end by a plate q, which "is screwed to the frame, and at their lower end by the camwheel h5 that is fast to the shaft K. A roll j projects from one of the bars s into the camgroove in this wheel R15 above the shaft, and a roll on the end of a lever S5 that is connected by a link s6 to the other bar projects into the cam-groove below the shaft, so that the bars are alternately reciprocated. (See Fig. 12.) Pins S7 projecting from the partition through a slot in the bars guide them in their vertical movement.

Projecting to one side from the head s' in the same plane is a head t, to the under side of which are secured the renewablecartridgeseparators or belt-cutters t. These separators reciprocate with one pairof forceps, and when they come down the knife-edges cut the fiber of the belt and release or separate two cartridges, so they may be picked up bythe forceps when they come in line.

A crank E is secured, preferably, by a ratchet and pawl e3 to one end of the shaft E, so that rotation of the crank drives the mechanism, while, if desired, the mechanism may be operated without turning the crank. A bevel-gear J, attachedl to the opposite end of the shaft E, meshes with a gear J', which is fast to the upper end of shaft j, to the lower end of which is secured a bevel-gear J 2 that meshes with a gear J3. The gear J3 is attached to the end of a shaft J 4, which is rotated by means of a motor U, that is secured to the under side of the tail-plate b of the mount B, the energy in the motor being stored in springs, compressed air, or any desired form. The shaft 7' is telescopic, the part j sliding through the part j?, and the brackets supporting the shaft are hung on the shafts E and J4 to permit the gun to be elevated or depressed without stopping the motor or disconnecting the gears. The gear J is connected to the shaft E by a ratchet-andpawl clutch, so that the shaft may be rotated by the crank without operating` the motor.

The barrels D are inclosed by a casing d, which forms a chamber into which water is poured to keep down the temperature of the barrels, and the breech is protected by a cas'- ing d', which has a cover d2 that may be easily opened to reach the mechanism. An elevating-screw b is attached at one end by' a ball-and-socket joint to a projection d3 on the rear of the casing and passes through a swiveled nut b2 in the tail-piece h. (See Figs. 1 and 17.) This nut h2 consists of a frame 3, trunnioned in the end of the tail-piece, the frame bearing two worm gear-wheels b4 b5, the shaft of the gear b5 being provided with a crank bc, so that the gear may be rotated while the end of the pivot of wheel b4 is threaded and provided with clamp-nut 57.

To quickly change the elevation of the gun, the gear b4 being loose on its pivot, the crank b is rotated, which causes the gear b5 and` screw b to act as a rack and pinion, but when a line adjustment is desired the gear b4 is clamped between the faces of the frame b3 and the screw rotated by the wheel 58, the gears forming a nut. A handle d4 extends across the back of the gun, whereby it may be oscillated horizontally.

Then the gun is mounted, properly sighted, and a case of cartridges attached, the first cartridge being laid on the feed-chain, and the gunner pulls the handle u', the motor, through the connecting shaft and gear, rotates the shaft E. The rotation of this shaft starts the feed mechanism,which brings the belted cartridges np under the. separator-knives, which descend and separate or cut off two cartridges. These are fetta-long until the first cartridge is beneath the right-hand barrel, when the right-hand forceps descend, grasp the cartridge, and raise it to the level of the barrel. Then the right-hand spindle Gcomes forward and the loading-rod pushes the cartridge from the forceps through the loadingopening in the breech-block into the barrel. This spindle then withdraws a short distance and the breech-block is oscillated to bring a firing-pin back tothe cartridge and a loadingopening opposite the left-hand barrel. The spindle continues to withdraw, the trigger is pulled by the trip, and the bolt recocked by the cooking-lever. At the same time the spindle G is receding the spindle G approaches and forces a cartridge that has been picked up by the left-hand forceps into the left-hand barrel. Then this barrel has been loaded and is being fired, another cartridge is being loaded into the right-hand barrel-that is, when one barrel is being loaded the other is being fired. The cam k2 which oscillates the breech-block is so timed that the breech of the barrel which has been fired is fully covered until it is necessary to again load that barrel. The

block does not have to be removed immediately to extract the shell, which operation has to be done so quickly in prior rapid-firing guns that much gas and soot escape from ICO IIO

the breech, reducing the velocity and accuracy of the ball and fouling the mechanism.

If it is desired to operate butone barrel the rod c is pushed forward so the ratchet will feed. but one space, and the forceps which lift the cartridges to the silent barrel screwed up so they will not grasp a cartridge when they descend; then all of .the cartridges will be fed into the other barrel.

To quickly disable the gun, the covers of the casing and frame are thrown open, the removable plates a which hold the spindles in place lifted out, and the spindles removed.

The gun will automatically load and lire as long as ammunition is supplied and the motor drives the mechanism, and should the motor become exhausted the crank may be utilized to continue the firing. Shells cannot clog the mechanism, as they do not return through the breech after being exploded.

I claim as my inventionl. In a machine-gun, and in combination, a barrel, a frame to which the barrel is connected, feeding mechanism, loading mechan-I ism, and firing mechanism on said frame, a driving-shaft for said mechanisms, connections between said mechanisms and said driving-shaft, and a motor supported on the mount, and connections between said drivingshaft and the motor, alll substantially as de-` scribed.

2. In a machine-gun, and in combination, a barrel, a frame to which the barrel is connected, feeding mechanism, loading mechanism, and firing mechanism on said frame, a driving-shaft for. said mechanisms, connections between said driving-shaft and said mechanisms, a motor supported on the mount,

and an extensible shaft between the drivingshaft and the motor, all substantially as described.

3. In a machine-gun, the combination of the barrels, a frame bearing feeding, loading, and firing mechanisms supported upon a mount having a rearward-projecting tail-piece, a motor attached to the tail-piece, a telescopic ,shaft joining the motor and the drivin g-shaft of the feeding, loading, and firing mechanisms, andan elevating-screw joining the tailpiece of the mount with the frame, substantially as described.

4. In a machine-gun, and in combination, the barrels, a frame with which the barrels arev connected, feeding mechanism, loading mechanism, and firing mechanism by which the cartridges are fed, loaded, and fired, said mechanism being mounted on the frame, an

oscillating breech-block provided with a loading-opening and with a firing-pin, mechanism for oscillating the breech-block to bring the loading-opening and firing-pin into and out of line with the barrels alternately, substantially as described.

5. In a machine-gun, in combination with the barrels and the feeding, loading, and tiring mechanisms, a breech-block having two .loading-openings and firing-pins pivoted to the frame back lof the barrels', and provided with. gear-teeth that mesh with teeth on the end of an oscillating lever, substantially as described.

6. In a machine-gun, and in combination, 7

7. In a machine-gun, and in combination, Y

the barrels and the reciprocating feeding and loading mechanisms carried upon the frame in line with the barrels, mechanism arranged to move a chain of cartridges in rear of the barrels and in a lower plane, vertically-reciprocating bars carrying spring-arm frictionforceps in line with the cartridges and arranged to grasp a cartridge from the feedchain and to raise it into line with a barrel, and mechanism for alternately reciprocating said bars, substantially as described.

8. In a machine-gun, and in combination, the barrels and reciprocating feeding and loading mechanisms arranged in line with the barrels, mechanism arranged to move a chain of cartridges in rearof the barrels and in a lower plane, verticallyreciprocating bars bearing grasping-forceps which are made independently adjustable, whereby either may be rendered inoperative, said forceps being also arranged to grasp and raise a cartridge into line with thebarrel, and mechanism for alternately reciprocating the bars, substantially as described. l

v9. In a machine-gun, and in combination with a pair of vertically-reciprocating bars bearing forceps, and mechanism for feeding a chain of cartridges into linewith the said forceps, mechanism for reciprocating said bars alternately, and a cartridge-chain separator attached to oneof the forceps in line with the said chain, substantially as described, whereby the chain is severed upon the reciprocations of the forceps.

lO. In a machine-gun, and in combination, the barrels, the feeding and loading mechanisms reciprocating in line with the barrels, mechanism for feeding a cartridge-chain in rear of the barrels and below the plane thereof, reciprocating forceps arranged to grasp and raise a cartridge alternately first to kone barrel and then to another, and a pair of cartridge-separators Aconsisting of cutters arranged to span and separate two cartridges from the band, substantially as described.

1l. In a machine-gun, in combination with the barrels and the loading and firing mechanismshfeed mechanism consisting of a cam, a lever oscillated by the cam, a ratchet driven by the lever, a shaft rotated by the ratchet, ba

IIO

pair of sprocket-wheels, one of which is on a shaft connected with the ratchet, and a feedchain encircling the said wheels, substantially as described.

12. In a machine-gun, in combination with the barrels and the loading and firing mechanisms, feed mechanism consisting of a cam, a lever oscillated by the cam, a rod adapted to limit the oscillation of the lever, a ratchet driven by the lever, a shaft rotated by the ratchet,a pair of feed-wheels, one of which is on a shaft connected with the ratchet, and a feed-chain encircling the wheels, substantially as described.

13. In a machine-gun, in combination with the barrels andthe loading and ring mechanisms, feed mechanism consisting of a cam, a lever oscillated by the cam, the ratchet driven by the lever on the shaft bearing a feed-wheel and retard-ratchet on one side of the gun, a feed-wheel on the opposite side, and a chain with outwardly-projecting arms encircling both of the said feed-wheels, the upper surface of said chain being below the level of thebarrels, substantially as specified.

14. In a machine-gun, and in combination a barrel and mechanism to feed the cartridges into line with said barrel alternately, a reciprocating spindle having a bolt in line with the barrel and arranged to thrust a cartridge into the barrel in its forward movement, the firing-pin, mechanism operated by the backward movement of the plunger to retract the iiring-pin, means for forcing forward the firing pin, and trigger mechanism operated by the movement of the plunger, all substantially as described.

15. In a machine-gun, and in combination with the barrels, a feeding mechanism therefor, whereby the cartridges are brought into line with the barrels, a pair of spindles arranged to reciprocate alternately, independently-movable bolts in said spindles, a spring adapted to thrust the bolts forward, mechanism for drawing back the bolts and compressing the spring near the limit of the backward movement of the spindles, and a trigger arranged to release the bolt at the beginning of the backward movement of the spindle, substantially as described.

16. In a machine-gun, and in combination with the barrels, a feeding mechanism therefor, whereby the cartridges are brought into line with the barrels, a pair of spindles arranged to reciprocate alternately, independently-movable bolts in said spindles, a spring adapted to thrust the bolts forward, mechanism for drawing back the bolts and compressing the spring near the limit of the backward movement of thespindles, and a trigger arranged to release the bolt at the beginning of the backward movement of the spindle and to pass over its trip when the spindle moves forward, substantially as described.

17. In a machine-gun, and in combination with the barrels and the feeding mechanism therefor, a loading and iiring mechanism consisting of a pair of spindles, loading and firing bolts in said spindles operated in one direction by a spring, mechanism for retracting the bolts at the backward movement of the spindles, trigger mechanisms operated by the movement of the spindles,a pair of oscillating levers having segmental heads in gear with the spindles, and mechanism for oscillating the levers, all substantially as described.

18. In a machine-gun, and in combination with the barrels and feeding mechanism for the cartridges, alternately reciprocating spindles, each bearing a loading and firing bolt and a trigger pivoted between the lugs on the spindle, one end of the trigger being in contact with a sliding pin adapted to engage a shoulder on the bolt, and the other end having a pivoted pull held upright on one side by a pin and on the other side by a spring, substantially as specified.

19. In a machine-gun, and in combination with the barrels and mechanism to feed the cartridges, spindles arranged to reciprocate alternately in line with the barrels, loading and firing bolts in said spindles, a trigger and cooking-lever pivoted to projections on the spindles, a bolt to lock the firing-bolts, and a stop on the frame in line with the trigger, said bolt being operated by the cocking-lever, and said cocking-lever having an upper forked end arranged to come in contact with the stop on the frame, substantially as described.

20. In a machine-gun, and in combination with the barrels, and feeding mechanism for the cartridges, alternately-reciprocating spindles bearing loading and firing bolts, mechanism operating said spindles and bolts, a lower and a removable upper plate, said spindles being held in ways between said plates, the upper plate being removable when the cover of the frame is opened, whereby the spindles maybe readilyliftedout and removed, substantially as described.

21. In combination with the breech of a machine-gun, an elevating-screw provided with a hand-wheel pivoted to the breech, and passing through a nut on the mount formed of two gear-wheels, the shaft of one being provided with a crank and the shaft of the other with a clamp-nut, whereby t-he screw may be fed rapidly or slowly, substantially as specified.

22. In a machine-gun, and in combination, two barrels united to a frame which carries feeding, loading, and firing mechanisms, an oscillating breech-block having two loadingopenings and firing-pins, said block being arranged to oscillate to bring alternately aloading-opening and a firing-pin opposite the breech of the barrel, and mechanism for oscillating the breech-block, substantially as and for the purposeset forth.

23. In a machine-gun, and in combination, a pair of barrels fixed to the frame, a pair of ICO IZO

loading and firing bolts arranged to recipro' linev with the barrel, and connections between cate one in line with each barrel, a shaft, as `said feeding mechanism and the shaft E, all E, and connections between said shaft, and substantially as described.

the said bolts arranged. to operate forward FRANK M. GARLAND. 5 and backward alternately, feeding mechan- Vitnesses: Y Y

ism having a pair of forceps arranged to 0p- H. R. WILLIAMS, erate alternately to bring the cartridges into W. B. JENKINS. 

